Josh Gordon, Tyrod Taylor confident Browns’ offense can rebound

Wednesday

They also know they must strengthen connection: ‘We’ve got to take off in a big way’ Gordon says

BEREA Wide receiver Josh Gordon and quarterback Tyrod Taylor realize they must connect way more than once for the Browns to reach their potential on offense.

The team’s season-opening 21-21 tie Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers is evidence.

Gordon played 69 of the offense’s 89 snaps (78 percent) but was targeted just three times and finished with one catch for a 17-yard touchdown, which allowed the Browns to tie the score with 1:58 left in the fourth quarter and force overtime after trailing by 14 points with eight minutes remaining in regulation.

Stronger chemistry between Gordon and Taylor certainly could have elevated an offense that scored just once off the defense’s six takeaways. Now they’re determined to spearhead an offensive turnaround Sunday when the Browns (0-0-1) visit the New Orleans Saints (0-1).

“The biggest jump for most teams is after that first week,” Gordon said before Wednesday’s practice, “and for us, we’ve got to take off in a big way.”

There are reasons to expect dramatic improvement. For one, as Taylor put it, the Browns were “a hair away on a couple of opportunities from lighting up the scoreboard” in the rain against the Steelers. Also, the Saints surrendered 48 points (and scored 40) in their Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Superdome.

“You see where you can try to attack and exploit some of those areas,” Taylor said.

Taylor and Gordon each had one of their least productive outings this past weekend.

By going 15-of-40 passing (37.5 percent) for 197 yards and a touchdown with an interception for a rating of 51.8, Taylor finished with a sub-50 completion percentage for just the second time in his 44 career starts. It also happened Jan. 7 when Taylor completed 17-of-37 passes (45.9 percent) for the Buffalo Bills in their 10-3 wild-card playoff loss to Jacksonville.

“No quarterback wants to go and have the statistical things that we saw from this past week,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “ ... It wasn’t ‘a Tyrod Taylor performance.’ I think he’ll be the first to tell you that.”

Gordon hadn’t finished a game with only one reception since Dec. 23, 2012, when, as a rookie, he caught one pass for 7 yards in a 34-12 loss on the road against the Denver Broncos.

“We can do a better job of getting him the ball and getting him opportunities to make plays,” Taylor said. “That starts with myself.”

Although Gordon plucked Taylor’s touchdown pass off the helmet of Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton, Taylor’s lone turnover came when Sutton intercepted a deep, underthrown pass intended for Gordon at the Steelers’ 8-yard line with 16 seconds left in regulation.

“It was a miscommunication,” Taylor said. “I will take the blame for that.”

With 3:42 left in the third quarter, Steelers cornerback Joe Haden, formerly of the Browns, broke up a pass to Gordon in the end zone. Replays show Haden should have been flagged.

“Definitely pass interference,” Gordon said. “But that’s just how the game goes. Some calls are made. Some aren’t.”

Taylor threw toward Gordon a fourth time, but the play was wiped out by a penalty.

Among the obstacles they’re facing is the three-week absence Gordon took from training camp to receive treatment related to his struggle with addiction. It interfered with their ability to get their timing down.

“He’s a fast guy,” Taylor said. “I’m learning his speed each and every day so that we can be better at connecting, of course, on the deep ball because those plays spring open our offense and ultimately put points on the board.”

Taylor has received plenty of criticism from media and fans for his poor ball placement in the opener, but Gordon stressed “it’s definitely not all on him.”

Gordon added Taylor is “as resilient as they come. I expect nothing less than for him to bounce back in a major way. He’s as motivated as he’s ever been.”

As for Gordon, he should be targeted earlier and more often against the Saints.

“No doubt,” Jackson said. “Josh, when he’s going like we know he can, he has an opportunity to make plays. He’s got to continue to work to be in the right spot. We’ve got to give him opportunities, and I think we’ll do that.”

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